The government is looking to significantly reduce the cost for Hepatitis C treatment, which can total up to RM300,000.

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said this would be done by importing a generic version of the Hepatitis C medication named Sofosbuvir.

"One of the ways to get access to Sofosbuvir cheaply is to use the 'government's rights', where the Malaysian government can import generic Sofosbuvir, the price of which is significantly lower," Subramaniam said in a written parliamentary reply last Wednesday.

He said the Health Ministry was preparing a working paper on this to present to the cabinet for approval.

Subramaniam was responding to a query from Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang) who wanted to know if the government would use compulsory licensing for Sofosbuvir to help Hepatitis C patients.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Charles lauded the move.

"This will set the trend for the price of other expensive medication to be reduced, such as for cancer treatment," the DAP lawmaker said.

According to Subramaniam, about 20,000 Malaysians have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C from 2003 till December 2016.

He said the number of new infections reported last year was almost 3,400, and is expected to rise as more people become aware about the disease.

Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease which ranges in severity from a mild illness that lasts a few weeks, to a serious lifelong disease.

The disease is spread primarily through contact with the blood of someone who has been infected.